AVF Strandness Lecture: A History of the American Venous Forum

Founding the American Venous Forum

The AVF formed in 1987 after venous disease was largely overlooked by vascular surgery societies, bringing together founders who developed the CEAP classification and reporting standards needed to compare outcomes consistently. A critical correction renamed the superficial femoral vein to the femoral vein after clinicians were failing to treat its thrombosis as a true deep vein thrombosis.

Building Education, Registries, and Screening Programs

The Society grew its educational mission through a handbook, residency curricula, and fellowship courses, while its screening program and Caprini risk assessment tool extended outreach into underserved communities. Varicose vein, filter, and stent registries launched in 2009 later merged with the SVS Vascular Quality Initiative for national benchmarking.

Advancing Minimally Invasive Treatment and Research

Tumescent anesthesia enabled the shift to endovenous ablation, while advances in duplex and IVUS imaging, percutaneous vena cava filters, and clinical guidelines for thrombus removal and deep stenting transformed venous care. The Society has since expanded research grants, a traveling fellowship, and international partnerships that advance venous and lymphatic disease treatment worldwide.